Measurement, Regional Differences and Convergence Characteristics of Comprehensive Green Transformation of China’s Economy and Society

Yongjie Wu, Jingwen Wang () and Mengxuan Jia
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Yongjie Wu: College of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Jingwen Wang: College of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Mengxuan Jia: College of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: Promoting the comprehensive green transformation (CGT) of China’s economy and society is vital for achieving high-quality economic growth and building a beautiful China. This study establishes a CGT evaluation index system across four dimensions: comprehensiveness, synergy, innovation, and security. Using the entropy weighting method, it evaluates the CGT development level across 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2022. Subsequently, it examines regional differences and convergence features in CGT development through the application of the Theil index, kernel density estimation (replaced by KDE below), and convergence analysis methods. The findings indicate the following: Firstly, the CGT development level nationwide and within the four key regions has been on the rise annually; yet, regional variations persist. Secondly, both the overall disparities in CGT development across China’s economy and society and the discrepancies within the four key regions are diminishing. Furthermore, interregional variations are the main contributor to the overall disparities in CGT development. Thirdly, while the number of provinces achieving CGT development has gradually increased nationwide, their unevenness has also intensified. Fourthly, regarding convergence characteristics, σ-convergence, along with both absolute and conditional β-convergence are observed in all regions but the central; in the central region, absolute β-convergence is not statistically significant, but conditional β-convergence is. Conclusions from this study can offer theoretical insights for further elevating the CGT level of China’s economy and society and fostering coordinated regional development.

Keywords: comprehensive green transformation; entropy weighting method; kernel density; Theil index; convergence characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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